I recently had the pleasure to talk with Chris Allen the President of Hunting For Heroes a unique organization that is helping disabled police officers connect with other officers in similar situations and give back to them some hope, some joy and even in some cases a sense of purpose again.
Founded in 2010 by two active duty law enforcement officers, Hunting For Heroes (H4H) reaches out to officers across the country to connect them with other officers who have sustained life altering injuries. H4H provides a hunting camp environment where officers and their families are able to step away from daily struggles and enjoy time outdoors.
Hunting for Heroes actually began as hunting television show. The founders, Chris Allen and Chuck Bowles, were police officers in the St. Louis, Missouri area and were both avid hunters. They were working on a hunting television show working with both the law enforcement and police angles. As the show concept was being developed, the talk of hosting a charity hunt was presented.
We then began to search out those organizations that were taking care of our disabled law enforcement officers. Only to find out there were NONE. We could not find one organization that was providing services specifically… to the disabled law enforcement community. As being cops ourselves and understand the specific needs of a law enforcement officer we found this fact unacceptable.
The motto “taking care of our own” was easily developed as these are the words that we live by. We challenge you to do the same! Hunting for Heroes provides resources, such as recreational therapy and counseling, to disabled law enforcement officers who were injured in the line of duty.
Hunting for Heroes is worthy of your review, and donations. If you have the time they are looking for volunteers. Let’s accept their challenge and really and truly “Take Care of Our Own”.
If you would like to listen to our 20 minute interview please click the replay button below or RIGHT CLICK HERE to download (that’s CONTROL CLICK if you use a Mac then SAVE LINK AS…) a copy of the mp3 file.
Our thanks go out to all the people helping to make Hunting for Heroes an active and progressive strategy in taking care of those of us who have given up so much in service to our communities.
Thank you H4H!
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Thank you for this article
https://omny.fm/shows/law-enforcement-today/officer-eric-reynolds-boynton-beach-fl-police-dept
Hi Gary,
I’m sorry to hear about what you went thru with in your department but I’m glad that you found some support through Hunting for Heroes. Chris and everyone at H4H are great people and are doing tremendous work.
Thanks for your comments Gary, and good luck to you!
I am a disabled LEO out of WV. I had the pleasure of going on a hunt last spring with H4H and meeting Chris Allen. The hunt was an emotional time for me because after my shooting I was hung out to dry by my department and my fellow officers.
H4H (Hunting for Heroes) gave me back my dignity and reminded me that there are active and retired officers that still care. I was brought back into the brotherhood with open arms and I have Chris Allen and the other members of this wonderful organization to thank for showing me I still matter to those who wear the badge. Thank you Chris and God bless!
Hunting for Heroes is a nonprofit organization and those who still care for our disabled brothers and sisters should donate to this wonderful cause. Stay safe and watch your back!
God bless!
Hi Joe,
Thank you for your comments, and Thank you for your service!
I’m very sorry to hear about the injury that took away your career and your mobility and I’m even more saddened to hear about the way you were treated.
Unfortunately, yours is not the only story I have heard like this. Police Officer disability is much larger problem than most cops consider it to be. And then to add “insult to injury” they treated you so poorly instead of “taking care of our own” like we always promise we will.
The fact that we as a profession don’t walk our own talk when we say things like “we are all one big family” and “no one gets left behind” is the biggest shame of our profession!
The Disabled Police Officers Counseling Center, Inc. (DPOCC) and the Disabled Police Officers of America, Inc.(DPOA) Joint Report on a National Police Disability Study reported that as many as 13% of police retirements may be disability retirements and the numbers could go higher. You can learn more about the study at: http://www.drpoef.com/study/disabilityStudy.html and contact the Disabled Officers Counseling Center at: http://www.dpocc.org.
Thank you for your comments because maybe our profession is finally ready to listen, and maybe one or more of the leaders of tomorrow will pledge to make a difference.
May God Bless you and Care for You!
Please stay in touch.
Hello,
It is nice to find a group like yours that care
about cops that were cut down in their prime
performing their duties.
I am a disabled Police Officer from the State
of N.J. I was given my accidental disability pension
and forgotten.
I was struck in the back of the head with a pipe
while assisting another officer on a domestic.
Over the years, the discs in my upper neck
continued to degenerate and I lost mobility.
A operation replaced 3 discs and fused 2 more.
I regained most of mobility,but not enough to
function properly.
As a cop we expect these things to happen, but
we don’t expect to have our departments to totally
disregard us as human beings.
That’s one reason I moved to Missouri.
I had over 10 years on the job and the pricks refuse
to hang my picture with the other retirees, of which some are disability retirees .
Sorry for the long message but I finally got to
vent some, I guess.
Sincerely, JOE
I really feel good about The Law Enforcement Survival Institute, more cops and SWAT need to know about groups like this…….